After a bone marrow or cord blood transplant (also called a BMT), eating a nutritious diet is important to help your immune system and body get stronger. Your transplant center may give you a special diet to follow. You may need more protein or more calories than usual. You may also need to avoid certain foods to protect yourself from the risk of infection. If you have mouth sores or other eating problems after your transplant, you can choose foods that make eating easier.
Your transplant center may give you special guidelines for preparing food. You and anyone who cooks for you should be careful to follow food safety practices. This includes cooking food thoroughly, storing leftovers carefully and eating them within a day (or not at all), and keeping hot food hot and cold food cold. You may need to stop eating some foods for a while, especially if you cannot control how they are prepared. For example, you may need to avoid:
Food in salad bars, buffets and at deli counters.
Food in bulk food bins.
Some or all fresh fruits and vegetables — follow your transplant center's instructions. If your center allows fresh fruits and vegetables, wash and peel them first.
Food in restaurants — after the first 100 days after transplant, your center may allow you to eat in restaurants again. When you do, ask that your food be brought to you as soon as it is ready so it is still hot. Your server should bring your food even if the meals for others at your table are not ready yet.
You also should not share cups, glasses or eating utensils with anyone.
Transplant centers vary in their rules about what foods patients should avoid. If the instructions from your transplant center are different from what you read on this Web site, follow your transplant center's instructions. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
Managing eating problems
For some people, treatment side effects and/or graft-versus-host disease of the gut can make it hard to eat well after transplant. If you have eating problems, there are things you can do to manage them. Ask the dietician at your transplant center for ideas. The table below shows a list of eating problems some people face after transplant and tips for managing these problems. Most of these problems go away over time.
Eating Problem
Ways to Manage It
Not hungry
It may be easier to eat if you have several small meals throughout the day instead of a few large meals.
If there are times of day when you are hungry, eat more at those times.
Choose foods that are high in protein and calories when you are able to eat.
Try liquid or powdered meal replacements.
Be sure to drink enough liquids even if you cannot eat.
Mouth and throat sores
Eat foods that are lukewarm or cold, rather than hot.
Try soft foods that may irritate your mouth less. Some examples are milkshakes, creamed soups, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese.
Try cold foods such as cottage cheese, yogurt, watermelon, gelatin or ice cream.
Avoid foods that can irritate your mouth. This includes citrus fruits or juices, tomato sauce, spicy or salty foods and rough or dry foods like raw vegetables, toast or crackers.
Your doctor may be able to give you medicine that will help the pain.
Dry mouth
Drink water frequently.
Try very sweet or tart foods or drinks, such as lemonade, which may help your mouth water.
Add sauces, gravies and dressings to food.
Suck on sugar-free hard candies, gum, ice chips or popsicles.
Talk to your doctor or dentist about using an artifical saliva product.
Changed sense of taste or smell — foods taste metallic or bitter or have no taste
See if food with strong flavors, including spicy foods and tart foods, are more appealing.
Try chicken, turkey or eggs. Some people with this problem find them more appealing than red meat, such as beef.
Use plastic forks and spoons if food has a metallic taste.
Nausea and vomiting
Ask your doctor about medications that could help.
Try foods that are easy on your stomach, such as toast, crackers, rice, canned peaches, or clear liquids.
Avoid foods that are fatty, greasy or have strong flavors or odors.
Eat small amounts more often.
Sip liquids slowly through a straw, and drink small amounts throughout the day.
Diarrhea
Drink lots of fluids.
Eat small amounts of food more often.
Avoid fatty or greasy foods.
Avoid high-fiber foods such as bran, whole grain bread and raw vegetables.
Some foods to try include: yogurt, cottage cheese, rice, noodles, smooth peanut butter, white bread, bananas, canned fruits, and skinned chicken or turkey, lean beef or fish (broiled or baked, not fried).
Lactose intolerance (your body cannot digest the milk sugar called lactose)
Talk to a dietitian about how to follow a low-lactose diet.
The tips on this Web page are general recommendations. They are not intended to replace, and should not replace, your own doctor's advice. Your doctor will give you recommendations based on your own particular situation. If you have questions, talk to your doctor.
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